Improvement in machines for forming wire loops



2 Sheets--Sheet T.

C. M. SPEN CEB. Machines for Forming Wire-Loops.

Patented- Dec. 2, 1873.

|E ne@ 2Sheets-Sheet2.n C. M. SPENCER. Machines for Forming Wire-Loops. N0. 45,250. Patented Dec-2,1873.

'l'nessea mmor. K

AUNITEJJ STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHRISTOPHER M. SPENCER, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

{MPROVEMENT IN MACHINES FOR FORMING WIRE LOOPS.

Spi-.viticutmi forming part of Let-ters Patent No. 145,250, dated Dccembei 2,1873; application filed August 2, l 3.

To all whom 'it may concern Beit known that I, CHEIs'rorI-TER M. SPEN- CER, of Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tire \Vorking Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being` had to the ae companying drawings, in which- Figure l is a top or plan view of the machine embodying my improvements aforesaid. Fig. 2 is a side view or elevation of the machinethe side A A. Fig. S is an end elevation of the machine-the end B. Fig. 4 is a view in cross-section on the line x ai', looking toward the end C. Fig. 5 is a view in cross-section on the line .r m, looking toward the end B. Fig. 6 is aview in cross-section on the line y y, looking toward t-he end I5. Fig. 7 is a detached side view-or, with reference to the .whole machine, an end view from the end (lof the reciprocating wire-clamp made use of. Fig. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of the product of the machine.

This machine is for producing from common wire the V-shaped figures shown in Fig. S, with hooked ends. These figures are used in the construction of wire mattresses, so called. Some 0f the parts of the machine-as, for instance, the reciprocating clamp-are applicable to other uses.

The letter a indicates the base-plate of the machine, on which are the standards al a2 a3, in which is hung the main shaft b, with a bevel-gear, b1, meshing into and driving the bevel-gear b2, to the side of which is fixed the crank-arm c, bearing a crank-pin, c', which is adjustable toward and from the center, on which the crank-arm turns, so that the length of throw given to the reciprocating clampabout to be describedcan be regulated within proper limits at pleasure. The letter d indicates a pitman or connecting-rod, one end pivoted on the crank-pin c', and the other end jointed or pivoted to the base e of the reciprocating clamp, which travels back and forth on the traveling bar j', being held thereto by dovetail ways. From the base e rises the anvil el, and to this is pivoted the clampinghead e2. Corresponding semicircular slots c3 c4 are cut in the opposing faces of the anvil and head, forming, when closed together, a

round, or nearly round, hole, through which runs the wire g, off which the V-shaped links are to be cut and bent. On the end of the pitman d is a cam, d1, which, when the opposite end of the pitman passes below the center on which the crank-arm turns, presses up on the under side of the heel end of the head e2, and presses down the toe end, so that the wire g is tightly grasped between the anvil c1 and the head c?. At the time that the wire is thus clamped, the clamping device is at 0r near thc outer end of its play, and has started inward toward the end B. It carries the wire along with it, and feeds it forward just the right length to make one of the V-shaped links. Y

As once before stated, the length of this feed can be regulated by the adjustment of the crank-pin on the crank-arm.

The moment that the outward end of the pitlnan passes above the center of the crankarm, the cam d1 releases the hold of the head onthe wireL anfffon'thc outward stroke of the reciprocating clamp the wire g remains stationary. The moment that the wire y arrives at the end of one of its inward feed movements, the punching-lever h, pivoted on the pin 7&1, and actuated by they cam h2 on the main shaft I), comes down upon it, pinching the wire between the lever and the bed h3, and thus holding the wire so that it cannot ,move endwise at all. The wire is thus held till the reciprocating clamp is ready to takehold again, when the cam h2 allows the lever h to loosen. its hold on the wire.

In order to give this cam ample time t-o operate, and in -order to prevent all danger of the reciprocating clamps operation on the wire too soon, and before the lever h has fully operated, a little lost motion77 is given to the pitman cl by making the hole d2, through which the crank-pin runs, a slot lengthwise in the pitman. This lost motion occurs at the two points which are commonly known as dead centers 7 in steam-engines.

Vhen a proper length of wire has been fed through the bushing t, and the wire has been grasped by the lever h, the chisel il, operated by the cam t2 upon the main shaft, moves forward and cuts o a piece of wire of the right lengthfor-one of the V-shapedlinks. The back.

motion of the chisel is given by thc spring fifi. This piece of wire thus severed now lies on the bending-table k, passing by the pin 0. The swage-slidc 01, actuated by the cam o2 on the main shaft, now moves forward, and the wire is bent, between the semiciroular cut-away 03 and the pin o, into the shape indicated by the dotted parallel lines. rIhe back motion of the slide o1 is given by a spring, o4. When the wire is bent, as indicated in dotted lines, the two ends thereofmove under the former m,which is on the rock-shaft u. 0n the main shaft bis the cam s, actuating the rack .SJ-the backward movement ofthe ra-ck given by the spring s2- the teeth of which rack mesh into and actuate the pinion al and the rock-shaft 11. rlhc shape of t-he cam s is lsuch that, at the proper time and when the two ends of the wire have swung under the former m, it causes the rock-shaft to ina-kc a partial revolution, causing the former m to bend the two ends of the wire into small hoops, as seen in Fig. 8. The rock-shaft then makes a short return movement, bringin the former into position pointing straight downward, in which position the former remains a second or two, giving the now complete link a cha-nce to drop ofi' and down ont of the way, when the rock-shaft returns to the position shown in the dra-wing, ready i'or another operation.

I have now traced the progress ot' the wire from the coil through this machine, and shown how it is finally delivered in the V-shaped links with hooked ends, the whole being done automatieall y.

I have already described how the reciprocating clamp is made to have a longer or shorter throw for larger or smaller links by the adjustment ofthe crank-pin on the crank-arm. For the saine purpose the rock-shaft u is made adjustable toward or from the pin o by means et adj ustableJ ournal-boxes u2 n2,which are secured to the standards al a2 by headed screw-pins a ruiming through the slots n3 ai into the respective standards. For the same purpose Jdie bed or table k is made adjustable back and forth endwise of the machine on the adjusting-bar k1, the bed or table being secured at any dcsired point by the screw k2 runnin g through the side oi' the table and bearing against the bar k1.

I claim as my invention, and desire to secure Letters Patent on- I. The combination ot the crank c, pitman d, bearing the cam d1, and the reciprocating clamp, composed of the base e, anvil e1, and pivoted head c2, the whole constructed, ar-

1anged, and designed for operation and use, substantially as described.

2. The combination of the crank c, crank-pin c1, and pitman d, having the slot d2 for lost inotion, and bcarin the cani d1, with the reciprocating clamp, composed of base c, anvil el, and pivoted head c?, the whole constructed, arranged, a-nd designed for operation and use, substantially as described.

3. rlhe combination of the crank c, pitman d, bearing the cam dl, the reciprocating clamp, composed ot the base e, anvil el, and pivoted head c?, the cam. 7:2, lever 71 and bed h3, all eon structed and operatin substantially as set forth.

4. The combination oi' the crank c, pitman d, bearing the cam d1, the clamp-base c, anvil el,

pivoted head c2, cam h2, lever la, bed h3, cam i2,

and chisel il, all constructed and opera-tin g substantially as set forth.

5. The combination of the cam o2, swage-slide 0l, having the cnt-away o3, and the pin o.

6. The combination ot the cam o2, swage-slide 01, having the cut-away o, the pin 0, the table 7., and rock-shaft n, provided with the former m, all constructed and operating substantially as set forth.

7. The combination of the cani s, shaped as shown, the rack s1, the pinion nl, and the roekshatt n, bearing the former m.

CHRISTOPHER hi'. SVEN ER WM. E. SmoNns, JonN PoLLrrr. 

